Adjustable strap fastener



April 20, 1943. G. l.. DlEBoLD ADJUSTABLE STRAP FASTENER Filed April 27, 1942 IN VEN TOR. @eogeebold Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE STRAP FASTENER George L. Diebold, Chicago, Ill. Application April 27, 1942, Serial No. 440,569

Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable strap fasteners and more particularly to an adjustable strap fastener adapted to be applied to the straps of various articles of wearing apparel, such as Womens undergarments and the like.

Heretofore, numerous attempts have been made to provide adjustable strap fasteners, buckles or clasps for the above stated purposes but these attempts for varying reasons have proven unsuccessful. In some instances, such adjustable strap fasteners failed to perform their intended function in that they failed to hold securely without slippage the straps to which they were applied. Other fasteners while achieving satisfactory operation from the standpoint of holding the straps securely failed in another respect be'- cause they were incapable of ready adjustment, particularly when in operative position on the wearer of the garment. Still other adjustable fasteners, while achieving some degree of suc` cess with respect to holding the straps against slippage and being capable of ready adjustment, nevertheless were of such bulk or of such odd shapes that their cost of manufacture was prohibitive commercially or they were incapable of lying flat when being Worn, thereby pressing into the body of the wearer or raising unsightly bulges in the outer garments.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention to provide an adjustable fastener adapted to be applied to straps and the like whereby the straps may be securely fastened at a predetermined length against slippage and may be readily adjusted with a minimum of effort.

Another object of my invention is to provide an -adjustable fastening means applicable to straps of various articles of wearing apparel whereby a strap may be securely held against siippage at a predetermined length and is capable of being readily adjusted to vary the length of the strap, even when the adjustable fastening means is in a relatively inaccessible position or is disposed at a relatively awkward angle on the body of the wearer.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable strap fastener adapted to be readily applied to the straps of various articles of wearing apparel which is of simple, neat inexpensive construction and by which the length of a strap may be easily and quickly varied to suit the needs and comfort of the wearer.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable strap fastener which is flat and relatively inconspicuous in design, of relatively low cost, efficient in operation, and capable of ready attachment and adjustment.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my improved adjustable strap fastener with straps operably connected thereto in garment supporting position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the adjustable fastener and the straps operably connected thereto illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the strap fastener and operably connected straps illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the strap fastener and operably connected straps taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the strap fastener and operably connected straps taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The adjustable strap fastener illustrated in the drawing may be composed of any suitable material having sufficient strength to withstand the strains to which it is subjected during wear and preferably may be composed of plastics from which the member may be inexpensively formed by well-known stamping or molding processes.

Specifically, the improved adjustable strap fasu tener comprises a substantially flat frame member of generally rectangular outline having side portions II! and II integrally connected by an end portion I2 and intermediate spaced cross members or bars I3 and I4. The other end portion I5 of the frame member is also integrally connected to the side portions Ill and Il, but it is provided with a gap or opening I 6 through Which a strap 23 may be passed as hereinafter described more fully. By the foregoing arrangement of parts the member is, therefore, provided with threetransverse slots I8, I9 and 2D, slots I8 and I9 being closed and slot 20 being open at the gap I 6 in the end portion I 5.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the side portions I0 and II and the end portions I2 and i5 are of substantially the same regular rectangular cross section except that the outer edges of these portions which may contact the skin and other garments of the wearer have been rounded off to avoid irritation and snagging. The cross members I3 and I 4, however, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, are not rectangular in cross section, but are provided with a cross sectional conguration of such nature as to hold securely, in cooperation with the other elements of the frame, a section of strap against slippage when in operable position and at the same time permit ready adjustment of the strap to a desired length.

Specifically, the cross member I3 is provided with a beveled or sloping face I3a wihch forms one of the sides of the transverse slot I9, this face I3a sloping rearwardly and outwardly from a relatively narrow face ISb on the front of the cross member I3 to a relatively wide face I3c on the rear of the cross member I3. The cross member I4 is provided with sloping faces I4a and I4", face I4a forming the one of the other sides of the transverse slot I9 and face Mb forming one of the sides of the slot I3. The faces Ida and I4b `slope outwardly and forwardly from a relatively narrow face I4c at the rear of the cross member I4 to the horizontal faces I4'.d and I4e of the cross member I4, the juncture where the beveled faces I4a and I4b meet the horizontal faces I4d and Ide, respectively, being rounded to facilitate movement of the strap during adjustment as hereinafter described.

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, a section of strap 2'I passes through the slot I8 and extends in a loop around the end portion I2, its loose ends 2 Ia and 2Ib being secured to the top edge of a garment 22 which may be a brassiere, slip, foundation garment or the like. By 4this arrangement the adjustable strap fastener is secured to the garment 22 in a substantially permanent manner, although the fastener also may be directly attached to the garment 22 by sewing or other appropriate means, if desired.

A shoulder strap 23 which may be fastened to the upper portion of the back (not shown) of the garment 22 and extends over the shoulder of the wearer is also illustrated in the drawings detachably and adjustably secured to the improved l strap fastener which constitutes my invention in the manner hereinafter described. The shoulder strap 23 extends downwardly to the rear (or to the left as viewed in Fig. Ll) of each section of the end portion I5, and then diagonally outwardly through the transverse slot 20 from which it extends downwardly over the relatively narrow front face I3b of the cross member I3, over the transverse slot i9 and over the wide front face If of the cross member I4. It then passes rearwardly through the transverse slot I3 and is looped about the cross member I4 so that it extends in close proximity to the horizontal and beveled faces I4a and |41), respectively, of the cross member I4, after which it extends upwardly over the relatively narrow face |40, and diagonally forwardly and upwardly through the transverse slot i9 in close proximity to the beveled faces I4a and I3@ of the cross members I4 and I3, respectively. The strap 23 then poses upwardly over the face I3'D between the cross member I3 and itself from which it pasess rearwardly through the transverse slot 2B. After passing rearwardly through slot 20 the loose end 23b of the strap 23 is permitted to hang downwardly in parallel relation to the strap 2l behind which it is concealed from view. In Fig. 3 this loose end `23b has been cut away as at 23c to better illustrate the manner of application of the strap to the slide fastener.

The foregoing construction provides a strap fastener which is capable of holding the shoulder strap 23 without slippage so that the garment 22 will be properly supported. By passing or looping the strap 23 about the beveled cross bars I3 and I4 and doubling it back upon itself in the manner described in detail above no slippage whatsoever is possible. When the fastener is in operable position on the wearer the upper portion 23a of the strap 23 is pulled taut over the shoulder in supporting the weight of the garment 22 which pressure results in the outer portion of the loop of the strap 23 bearing against its inner portion and holding the inner portion against the face I3b and relatively sharp corner I3d of the cro-ss member i3. Also a slight snubbing action is effected by looping the strap 23 about the beveled cross member I4. Both of these latter factors insure the strap 23 being held at the desired length without slippage.

If it is desired to lengthen the strap 23, that is, to increase the length of that portion above the adjustable strap fastener and to decrease the length of the dangling loose end, this operation may be very readily accomplished by moving the upper end of the strap 23 forwardly (to the right as viewed in Fig. 4) through the gap I 5 in the end portion IE-and then by pulling upwardly on the strap 23 which is permitted vto slip around the cross members I3 land I4very readily Without binding or snubbing due to the beveled faces ISa, I4a and I4b of the cross members I3 and I4, respectively. When this strap 23 has been lengthened to the desired adjustment, it may then be moved rearwardly through the gap I6 in the end portion I5 to operable binding position behind the end portion I5 as shown in Fig. 4 and described in detail hereinbefore.

f it is desiredto shorten the strap 23 over the shoulder of the wearer, this may also be accom.- plished with a minimum of effort .and operation. By merely grasping the loose dangling end 23b of the strap 23 and pulling downwardly the strap-23 is caused to slip readily through the fastener. As the loose end 23o of the strap is pulled downwardly, the special beveled constructions of the cross members I3 and I4 cooperate to permit ready slippage of the strap by reducing to a mini.- mum the snubbing effect of the cross members I3 and I4 heretofore deemed necessary and eS- sential to prevent slippage of the strap while in operable position.

Because of its definite holding capacity and its ease and simplicity of adjustment, the improved adjustable strap fastener above described is adaptable not only to shoulder straps but also may be applied to straps of a wide variety of uses. Further, it may be used in relatively inaccessible and awkward positions where the manipulation of the strap and the fastener for adjustment must be accomplished by feel alone without the aid of sight.

Also, it has been found that the ,fastener op.-Y erates with the same efficient and definite holding capacity and with the same ease of adjustment as above described, With various thicknesses of Vstrap and with various types of material. The fastener with its specific combination of elements is capable of holding against slippage straps comprised of thin smooth silk while the very same 901istruction is also adapted to permit ready adjustment of relatively heavy or thick straps having transverse ribs which possess relatively great frictional resistance to movement.

I claim:

l. An adjustable strap fastener comprising a frame au parte of which lie in asing'ie plane, said frame comprising side portions and upper and lower end portions forming the outer outline of said frame and two cross bars extending between said side portions and forming Within said side and end portions a plurality of transverse slots, the upper of said cross bars having a sloping lower face extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front of said upper cross bar and the lower cross bar having sloping upper and lower faces extending convergingly inwardly and rearwardly from the front of said lower cross bar.

2. An adjustable strap fastener comprising a frame all parts of which lie in a single plane, said frame comprising side portions and upper and lower end portions forming the outer outline of said frame, the upper of said end portions having a gap and the lower end portion being adapted for connection to a garment, and two cross bars extending between said side portions and forming within said side and said end portions a plurality of transverse slots, the upper of said cross bars having a sloping lower face extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front of said upper cross bar and the lower cross bar having sloping upper and lower faces extending inwardly and rearwardly from the front of said lower cross bar.

3. An adjustable strap fastener comprising a frame all parts of which lie in a single plane, said frame comprising side portions, an end portion at the top of said frame and two cross bars extending between said side portions and forming within said side portions and said end portion a plurality of transverse slots, the upper of said cross bars having a sloping lower face extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front of said cross bar and the lower of said cross bars having sloping upper and lower faces extending convergingly inwardly and rearwardly from the front of said second cross bar, and means on said frame adapted to fasten said frame in operable position. 1

4. An adjustable strap fastener comprising a frame al1 parts of which lie in a single plane, said frame comprising side portions, an end portion at the top of said frame and two cross bars extending between said side portions and forming within said side portions and said end portion s plurality of transverse slots, the upper Lof said cross bars having a sloping lower face extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front of said cross bar and the lower of said cross bars having sloping upper and lower faces extending convergingly inwardly and rearwardly from the front of said lower cross bar.

5. An adjustable strap fastener comprising a frame all parts of which lie in a single plane, said frame comprising side portions, an end portion at the top of said frame having a gap'therev,through and two cross bars extending between said side portions and forming within said side portions and said end portion a plurality of transverse slots, said cross bars being substantially straight with smooth and uninterrupted surfaces from end to end and the upper fof said cross bars having a sloping lower face extending rearwardly and downwardly from a relatively narrow front face of the cross bar to a relatively wide rear face of the cross bar and the lower of said cross bars having two sloping faces extending rearwardly and inwardly from upper and lower horizontal faces of said lower cross bar and converging with a relatively narrow rear face of said lower cross bar, and means on saidfframe adapted to fasten said frame in operable position GEORGE L. DIEBOLD. 

